Kelly
I don’t like Air B & B. I know, the horror! While I personally don’t like Air B&B, I don’t expect anyone else to share my distaste for staying in other people’s apartments. AirBnB is more hands off with hospitality (and understandably so), it’s just a room rental and with my experience, it’s far from than ideal.
My Experience with AirBnB
I booked two AirBnB’s while in London. Since you book directly with people, there isn’t as a strict accountability as a business. Rebecca could cancel your room last minute because of how she is feeling, leaving you out of luck. When I booked one room and got confirmation, I was told by the host the room was unavailable. After I booked another room/AirBnB, I was told it was available again. It was too late to change anything. I prefer have some sort of strict confirmation when I put my debit card down to pay for a reservation that is hundreds of dollars.
The Air B&B I booked, with all due respect, freaked me out. There was this long hallway I had to walk through, go past a court yard, and there was the room I was staying in. At night this room was pitch black.
The room itself as very clean but I hated that there wasn’t a front desk to assist me or report that I had been murdered in the night.
Outside/courtyard 
The door leading to the room
I couldn’t lock my room and there were random people at times at the apartment. When I think I am by myself and some random guy zooms past me, it’s a bit alarming.
I booked a second AirBnB for one night before I left London. I tried to stay/book for additional nights at the first AirBnB but the host wouldn’t allow that even though it was fully available on the app. If I can book a hotel for extra nights, why I can’t I do the same with AirBnB?
I had booked a full day tour so I couldn’t check into the second AirBnB until night time. I had to visit a nearby hotel to have them store my luggage because the first AirBnB didn’t allow that. My mom and I were hauling around our huge suitcases for 2 hours taking the tube, the bus, and eventually an Uber to try to locate this apartment. The host was shocked we weren’t at the AirBnB yet and didn’t help us to locate it.
When my mom and I finally got to the complex to of the AirBnB, it was confusing.
The gate outside of the apartment complex was too hard to push so it look me 5 minutes to get into the complex then another 20 minutes to find out which building the apartment was in. When I was able to find that out, there was 6 flights of stairs to the apartment. Guess where our AirBnB was. Yes, at the very top floor with no elevator. This wouldn’t have been a problem if both of our suitcases didn’t weigh 60 pounds. So it took about an hour for me to haul our suitcases step. by. step. I am not a strong person so it has a horrible struggle for me. The whole “several flights of stairs and no elevator” wasn’t mentioned on the brochure page of the room or on the reviews.
With that experience in mind, here are the reasons why I don’t like AirBnB
Not as much accountability and reputation to uphold
If a host receives a bad review on their apartment it doesn’t affect the whole “chain” as it does of a Marriot for example. The standard for AirBnB is low. All they have to do is provide you with accommodation. They don’t need to nice to you or assist you in any way. You book through the app and get a contact phone number. That’s usually as good as it’s going to get. Their purpose is to provide you with a roof over your head and somewhat of a clean/decent place to stay. I want to stay at a place that puts customer service as a priority.
Lack of Transparency
When think you are booking Stacey’s apartment, you could actually be booking from a business that rents out apartments and uses AirBnB as a business rather than a “side hustle”. While there is nothing “wrong” with this, I am still getting a room, I want everything to be transparent and clear BEFORE booking. Like, does the host live in the apartment? Are they out out town? Are they just using the app as a business? What is the situation and who am I booking with? I thought I was booking a girl’s apartment and when I called the number on file, I am speaking to man. Again, there isn’t anything wrong with this, it’s just confusing.
I want to know what the room does or doesn’t include. I want to be able to lock my door so that way another person staying at the same apartment doesn’t attack me. I want help with my luggage if I can’t climb 6 flights of stairs with my luggage. I want a standard of safety and cleanliness that is regulated.
There was a guy that came into our room to collect and switch out the towels and sheets. I had no idea he was coming. I had no idea who this guy was. No uniform (naturally, it’s an apartment). I never felt secure. With housekeeping, they only visit if you aren’t there and/or opt for cleaning. This guy didn’t care. He came barging in asking for our linens. I am assuming this man, whoever he was, works for several Air B&B’s. It was so uncomfortable.
When I was checking into the second AirBnB, the message from the AirBnB host said “Please be quiet on the stairs and don’t ask anything to my neighbours.” I don’t want to worry about being being too loud when trying to do something as simple as walking up the stairs. Of course the resident didn’t want the neighbors to be aware she was renting out the apartment. But again, I don’t want to worry about those kind of things. I want to confidently walk up the stairs and my room knowing I deserve to be there and everyone who is at that location is aware of the situation.
No structure
With a hotel, there is structure. I know the front desk has a job. The housekeeper has a job. I know if I am sleeping and put a do not disturb sign they will let me be and come back later. I know if I call them at 10PM at night asking for directions or assistance, they will guide me. They will hold my bags. I get to meet the staff face to face. If I can book a hotel for an AirBnB that costs just as much, I am going with the hotel time and time again.
